Water-motor



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. HIGGINS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WATER-MOT'O R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,390, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed January 14, 1891. Serial No. 377,758. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER B. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing; in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Motors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in Water-motors of the kind havinga bucket- Wheel inclosed in a Water-tight case, with an inlet andcoupling at one side and a discharge at the opposite side of theperiphery, the bucket-Wheel being fixed on a shaft that extends throughthe case and gives motion to a gear or a pulley on the outside.

The improvements embraced in my present invention consist of anattachment or device for increasing the active force of the jet upon thewheel, consisting, mainly, of a deflecting plate and shield combinedwith a jet tube or nozzle of improved construction, both partsadjustable with respect to the rim of the wheel and co-operating toutilize the reaction of the jet against the bottom of the wheelbucketand convert the same into useful force to assist in driving the Wheel.The improvements include, also, means for securing a close fit andbearing of the shaft in the stationary case without excessive friction,and with economy of time and labor in fitting the wheel and shaft.

The nature of my said improvements and the manner in which I constructand apply the same will be understood from the following description andthe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure lis a side View of a water-motor of this class with myimprovements applied to it. The side of the case is removed to show theparts inside. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the center of thecase and wheel at about the line m on, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows in detailthe jet-tube and the parts that hold and adjust it in the case. Fig. 4is a perspective View of the shield and deflector removed from the case.

A indicates the wheel, and B the surround ing case;

C is a water-inlet, and C the coupling, which has a screw-threadedsocket for attaching a pipe or hose.

Dis a jet-tube extending into the wheelspace of the case and terminatingin a nozzle D that is turned at an angle with the tube and is set todirect the jet against the back of the bucket.

E is the deflecting-plate, which is placed over the rim of the Wheel atand around the point where the propelling-jet is applied. It is arrangedto cover each bucket as it comes to the jet; but while it sets closelydown to the rim at the outer or back end it is raised at the front endto take in the jet tube or nozzle, so that the plate thus standsdiagonally across the space between the rim of the Wheel and thecircular rim of the case. The space beneath theplate, between its frontpart and the rim of the wheel, is closed in by turning down the sides ofthe plate and closing the end, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thejet-nozzle being inserted through the end of the plate. As thus formedand arranged, this deflecting-plate operates to confine and apply theforce of the jet in the most eifective and economical manner. Its format the front is that of an inverted bucket, and as the jet in strikingthe back of the wheelbucket is reflected back it is caught by the closedend or head of the plate and caused to react against the wheel in thedirection of its travel.

To adjust the outer end of the deflectingplate, it is supported by a rodF, that passes out through the rim of the stationary case to theoutside, and is held by a set-screw or by any other suitable means.Greater or less amount of clearance between the rim of the wheel and theback of the deflecting-plate for escape of the water is obtained bymoving the rod from the outside of the case and then fixing it by theset-screw.

The position of the jet and the inclosing front end of thedeflecting-plate is regulated by moving the jet-tube longitudinally inthe neck or extension B of the case. This adjustment is secured byfixing the tube in a screw-threaded socket in a disk D that sets in thebottom of the screw-coupling. This part D also serves to hold thecoupling C in place, and it is secured by screw d against the end of theneck, sufficient play being provided between that part and thescrew-coupling to let the latter piece turn loosely.

The bucket-Wheel is fixed on its shaft by a set-screw a On each side ofthe wheel a disk II with a long hub h is set on the shaft and held by aset-screw 77/2. The inner faces of the case have circular recesses B toreceive these disks and their hubs, and the disks are set to turnclosely and smoothly within these stationary rims and against the facesof the recesses. This construction gives a close fit and a steadybearing for the bucketwheel and shaft in the case without excessivefriction, and it permits the wheel to be easily fitted and adjustedunder conditions of variation in the castings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the motor-wheel and. its stationary case, ofthe jet-tube extending from the water-supply outside the shell andhaving a laterally-projecting nozzle, and the deflecting-plate having aclosed end and turned-down sides adapted to cover the jet-nozzle and thebuckets at the nozzle, as described.

2. In a water-motor, the combination, with a wheel and case therefor, ofa bucket-shaped deflecting plate or attach ment placed between the rimof the motor-wheel and the surrounding case, and a jet-tube extendingfrom the water-supply outside the shell, having a nozzle which isarranged to deliver its jet under said plate through the head or closedend thereof against the wheel, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the motor-Wheel and its case, thedeflecting-plate independently adjustable at the front end with respectto the rim of the wheel, and a jet-tube with a nozzle setting into thespace inclosed by the front end of the said plate and having adjustmentwith respect to the rim of the motor-wheel, and also aifecting' theadjustment of the closed end of the deflecting-plate, as set forth.

4. In a water-motor, the bucket-Wheel and shaft and the disks on thesides of the wheel,

,adjustable on the wheel-shaft, in combina-

